South Vietnam and Cambodia Tour

  Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, the dynamic heart of Southern Vietnam and the gateway to your Mekong tour through Vietnam and Cambodia. This vibrant metropolis marks the beginning of a fascinating journey that follows the Mekong River southward through Vietnam and into Cambodia.
  Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN), your private driver and local guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in the city center. After check-in, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure—relax after your flight, sip a cup of traditional Vietnamese coffee, or take a gentle stroll to experience the lively atmosphere of the city streets. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

08:00 – Your tour guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel to begin a full-day exploration of Ho Chi Minh City. Start with the Reunification Palace, the former presidential residence of South Vietnam and one of the city's most important historical landmarks. Continue to the Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon Central Post Office, two of the city's best-known examples of French colonial architecture. A short stop at a traditional lacquerware workshop offers a glimpse into one of Vietnam's long-established handicrafts.
Continue to Chinatown, known locally as Cho Lon, where you'll visit Thien Hau Pagoda and Binh Tay Market. The area has a distinctive atmosphere, with traditional Chinese architecture, busy market streets, and a long history of trade and commerce.
12:00 – Enjoy lunch at a carefully selected restaurant.
13:30 – Continue to the War Remnants Museum, which presents photographs, documents, and military exhibits relating to the wars in Vietnam. The visit provides an important perspective on the country's recent history. Continue to the Vietnam History Museum to discover Vietnam's history and cultural heritage through its extensive collection of artifacts.
 End the day at Ben Thanh Market, one of the city's most recognizable markets, where you can browse a wide range of goods, sample Vietnamese snacks, or simply enjoy the lively atmosphere. From here, you can return to your hotel with your guide and driver or stay in the city and continue exploring on your own. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.  

8:00 – Depart Ho Chi Minh City in the morning for Tay Ninh Province, located northwest of the city near the Cambodian border. Arrive at the Cao Dai Holy See, the spiritual heart of Caodaism, a uniquely Vietnamese religion that blends elements of Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, Confucianism, and other beliefs. Explore the ornate temple, known for its vibrant colors, dragon-decorated columns, and the symbolic All-Seeing Eye.
11:45 – Attend the colorful midday prayer ceremony and observe the religious rituals as followers gather in their traditional white robes.
12:30 – Transfer toward Cu Chi and enjoy lunch at a carefully selected restaurant.
14:00 – In the afternoon, explore the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an extensive underground network used during the Vietnam War. Learn how the tunnels were designed with concealed entrances, trapdoors, field hospitals, kitchens, and living areas to support life underground. You will also have the opportunity to crawl through a section of the historic tunnels and gain a closer understanding of what life was like beneath the ground.
16:00 – Depart Cu Chi and return to Ho Chi Minh City, arriving at your hotel in the early evening, depending on traffic. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. 

08:00 – Your tour guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City and depart for Ben Tre, the gateway to the fertile Mekong Delta. Take the express highway southward, leaving the busy streets of the city behind as the scenery gradually changes to rice fields, fruit orchards, and peaceful countryside.
Upon arrival in Ben Tre, board a private boat and cruise along the Tien River, passing green islands, riverside villages, and local fish farms. Continue by traditional hand-rowed sampan boat through the smaller waterways, gliding beneath water coconut palms and taking a closer look at everyday life along the Mekong.
Visit traditional cottage workshops where local families produce coconut candy, rice paper, and honey. Continue through tropical fruit orchards, taste fresh seasonal fruits, and enjoy a live performance of Đờn ca tài tử, a traditional form of Southern Vietnamese music recognized by UNESCO as an important part of the region's cultural heritage.
12:00 – Enjoy lunch at a garden house in the village, surrounded by tropical gardens and the peaceful countryside. Savor traditional Mekong Delta specialties, including the famous Elephant Ear Fish.
After lunch, return to the mainland and visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, one of the best-known Buddhist pagodas in the Mekong Delta. Admire its distinctive architecture, which combines Vietnamese, Chinese, and European influences, along with its impressive Buddha statues and peaceful grounds.
Continue by private vehicle to Can Tho, the economic center of the Mekong Delta. Check in at your hotel upon arrival, then enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure. You may relax at the hotel or take a stroll around Ninh Kieu Wharf to experience the lively riverside atmosphere of the city. Overnight in Can Tho. 

Wake up early, around 05:30–06:00, to experience Cai Rang Floating Market at its liveliest. Transfer to the pier and board a private motorboat to cruise along the Mekong River to Cai Rang, the largest and most vibrant floating market in the Mekong Delta. Dozens of boats gather on the river each morning to trade fresh tropical fruits, vegetables, and other produce, with goods displayed on tall bamboo poles known locally as bẹo.
One of the highlights of the morning is trying a bowl of noodle soup served directly from a floating food boat. Cai Rang's floating noodle vendors gained international attention after celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay visited the market, including a well-known stop with Dì Hai, whose noodle soup earned her the nickname “Queen of Broth.”
Return to your hotel for breakfast and check-out. Then depart by private vehicle for Chau Doc, a peaceful border town in the Mekong Delta near Cambodia.
12:00 – Enjoy lunch at a carefully selected restaurant along the way.
In the afternoon, explore Tra Su Cajuput Forest, a beautiful wetland area known for its waterways, dense cajuput trees, and rich birdlife. Take a small boat through the narrow canals, gliding beneath the shade of the forest while looking out for storks, egrets, and other waterbirds among the lush greenery.
Continue to Chau Doc and check in at your hotel. The rest of the evening is free to relax or explore the town at leisure. Overnight in Chau Doc. 

`Transfer to Chau Doc Pier to board a high-speed boat cruising along the Mekong River toward Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Enjoy the scenic journey as you cross the international border, passing floating villages, lush riverbanks, and peaceful rural communities along the waterway.

At the international border checkpoint, disembark briefly to complete immigration procedures and have your passport stamped. The boat staff will assist you with the border formalities before you reboard and continue the journey to Phnom Penh.

Upon arrival at Phnom Penh Port, your Cambodian tour guide and driver will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy some free time for lunch on your own.

In the afternoon, begin your Phnom Penh city tour with a visit to the National Museum of Cambodia, housed in a distinctive terracotta building dating from 1917 and home to an outstanding collection of Khmer art, sculpture, bronze, and Angkorian artifacts. Continue to Wat Phnom, the historic hilltop temple closely associated with the founding of Phnom Penh and one of the city's most recognizable landmarks.

Return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure, or take a stroll along Phnom Penh's lively riverfront promenade. Overnight in Phnom Penh.`

Begin the morning with a visit to Phnom Penh’s most celebrated landmark, the Royal Palace complex. Built in 1866 under King Norodom, the sprawling compound showcases elegant Khmer architecture, with richly decorated buildings and classic gilded roofs. Within the palace grounds is the famed Silver Pagoda, also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, renowned for its silver-tiled floor and collection of beautifully decorated Buddha images featuring gold, silver, and precious gemstones.
Continue to the iconic Independence Monument, erected in 1958 to commemorate Cambodia’s independence from French rule. Located in the heart of the capital, the monument is one of Phnom Penh’s most recognizable landmarks and an important symbol of the country’s modern history.
Enjoy lunch at a carefully selected restaurant.
After lunch, transfer to Techo International Airport (KTI) for your flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival at Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI), your Siem Reap tour guide and driver will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to relax or explore the vibrant night market and Pub Street. Overnight in Siem Reap. 

  Today, explore the Angkor Archaeological Park, the extraordinary temple complex that reflects the power, artistry, and spiritual traditions of the Khmer Empire. Start with Angkor Thom, the vast walled city built by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. Enter through the South Gate, one of the most impressive entrances to the ancient city, before continuing to Bayon Temple at its heart. Famous for its serene stone faces carved into the temple towers, Bayon offers a fascinating glimpse into the grandeur of the Khmer Empire.
  Continue to Baphuon, one of the most impressive temple mountains within Angkor Thom, before visiting Phimeanakas and the remains of the former Royal Palace area. Continue to the Terrace of the Leper King, richly decorated with detailed carvings, and the Terrace of the Elephants, which once served as a grand viewing platform for royal ceremonies, processions, and public events.
Enjoy lunch at a carefully selected restaurant.
  In the afternoon, continue to Angkor Wat, Cambodia's most celebrated temple and the largest religious monument in the world. Explore its grand galleries, towering central sanctuary, and intricate bas-reliefs while your guide explains the history, architecture, and symbolism of this remarkable Khmer masterpiece.
  Return to your hotel to freshen up before heading out for dinner and a traditional Apsara dance performance. The elegant dancers, elaborate costumes, music, and graceful movements bring stories from Khmer mythology and classical Cambodian culture to life. Enjoy dinner during the performance before returning to your hotel. Overnight in Siem Reap. 

Continue exploring the Angkor Archaeological Park with a visit to Preah Khan, a large temple complex built by King Jayavarman VII and now partly embraced by towering trees. Learn about the restoration work that has helped preserve this remarkable site.
Continue along the Grand Circuit to Neak Pean, a small temple surrounded by the ancient reservoir, before visiting the Eastern Mebon, known for its impressive stone elephants and detailed carvings.
Enjoy lunch at a carefully selected restaurant.
In the afternoon, visit Ta Som, a smaller and quieter temple with beautiful carvings and trees growing around its ancient ruins. Take some time to explore its peaceful setting before returning to your hotel in Siem Reap. The rest of the afternoon is free to relax or explore the town. Overnight in Siem Reap. 

In the morning, drive through the scenic countryside to Banteay Srei, often known as the “Citadel of Women.” Built largely from pink sandstone, this beautiful temple is renowned for its intricate and remarkably well-preserved carvings, considered among the finest examples of Khmer art in the Angkor area.

Continue to the Roluos Group, home to Hariharalaya, one of the earliest capitals of the Khmer Empire. Visit Preah Ko (“Sacred Bull”), dedicated to Shiva and named after his mount, Nandin. Next, explore Bakong, one of the earliest major temple-mountains of the Angkor period, with its distinctive stepped pyramid and impressive stone elephants.

Return toward Siem Reap and enjoy some free time for lunch on your own.

In the afternoon, drive to the shores of Tonle Sap Lake and board a traditional boat to Kampong Phluk, a fascinating stilted village community shaped by the seasonal rise and fall of the lake. Cruise past houses raised high above the water, fishing boats, and everyday scenes of life on the lake. Depending on the season and water levels, the boat may also pass through the flooded forest, offering a closer look at this unique freshwater ecosystem.

Return to Siem Reap and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure. Overnight in Siem Reap.`

Spend your remaining time at leisure to relax, shop for souvenirs, or enjoy a final stroll around Siem Reap before check-out. At the appointed time, meet your driver for a private transfer to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI) for your onward flight home or to your next destination.
Optional Extension: If you wish to extend your holiday, consider adding a relaxing beach getaway to Koh Rong Island or Sihanoukville. Contact the travel team to customize an extended itinerary to suit your plans.